Jahjaga: EULEX to clarify investigation of Chief State Prosecutor (dailies)
Kosovo’s President, Atifete Jahjaga, called on the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) to clarify the investigations that are being conducted in this mission that have included the Chief State Prosecutor, Alexander Lumezi. The Office of the President on Monday received a letter from a EULEX prosecutor, Heikki Wendorf, claiming that Lumezi may have been involved in corruption and the plotting of a murder. However, EULEX’s head of Mission, Gabriele Meucci, said that the opinion expressed by Prosecutor Wendorf does not represent the position of EULEX. “Kosovo laws provide for mechanisms to address allegations against Kosovo judicial personnel. These allegations would have to be brought in front of the competent Kosovo judicial bodies,” Meucci said. Meanwhile, Lumezi said that there has been an active campaign to stain his candidacy as Chief State Prosecutor.
Tahiri: We pledged to accelerate technical dialogue (Epoka e Re)
The Minister for Dialogue, Edita Tahiri, stated that during the most recent meeting in Brussels, parties agreed to hold meetings at the technical level more frequently, in order for the next meeting between the prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia to produce results. Tahiri was optimistic that Serbia will be more cooperative during this phase of the dialogue process, “because the European Union will deliver in June an assessment for both countries in relation to the European integrations.”
Opposition: Meet our demands or we will continue with protests (Epoka)
The leaders of the three opposition parties, Visar Ymeri, Ramush Haradinaj and Fatmir Limaj, met on Wednesday for the first time after the 18 April protest. They discussed further steps after the deadline set to the government to meet their demands. Haradinaj and Limaj, leaders of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA), stated after this meeting that they are expecting the government to reflect on their demands during this week. They also stated that the opposition will continue to be united and very active in relation to the developments in Kosovo.
OSCE Secretariat in Vienna sets “unacceptable” conditions for Kosovo (Koha)
The paper reports on its front page that the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is led by Serbia this year, has set conditions for Kosovo that are in opposition with the Brussels Agreement reached between Pristina and Belgrade. The paper claims to have secured a five-point document that includes the Secretariat’s conditions. According to the document, Kosovo officials can participate in OSCE-organized meetings, conferences, seminars, roundtables and trainings, only with Serbia’s permission and with a strictly neutral status. The paper also learns that the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has tried to amend this approach, but its suggestions were rejected by OSCE headquarters in Vienna. The government of Kosovo meanwhile has refused to participate under the new conditions. Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi told the paper on Wednesday that Kosovo wants to join organizations on equal terms. “This is why we refuse participation in terms that are not acceptable to the Republic of Kosovo,” Selimi said.
EULEX tried to arrest an individual who was already imprisoned (dailies)
All dailies report that on Wednesday morning the EU Rule of Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) tried to arrest Shaban Syla in connection to the “Bllaca” case, while the latter was already serving his sentence in Dubrava prison. EULEX spokesperson Besa Domi admitted that there had been a mistake and said that the problem was that the Director of the Correctional Centre had not informed the judge of Syla’s presence in prison.
Thaci to participate in Brdo Summit (Zeri)
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, travelled to Slovenia on Wednesday to participate in the Brdo Summit in which will participate Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkans and Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Austria and Italy. According to a press release issued by Thaci’s office, the European perspective of the region countries will be the main topic of discussion during the Summit.
Kosovo Police denies FYROM’s version of Likovo attack (Zeri)
The Kosovo Police contested the claims of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), that armed persons from Kosovo entered the country and have attacked a police station in Likovo, Kumanovo municipality. Baki Kelani, Spokesperson for the Kosovo Police, told the paper that he can confirm that there was no border crossing by suspicious individuals or criminal groups.
